This extremely simple pumpkin recipe gives you an unconventional way to use pumpkin. The ingredients may be minimal, but the flavor definitely isn’t lacking.
I love pumpkin. I love to bake with it, cook with it, and I always have one can stashed away in my pantry at all times. However, I rarely actually use it. I think it’s because pumpkin is associated with Fall, and I hate Fall because it means Summer is over. I usually just live in denial that the days are getting shorter and I need a coat every time I leave the house. And that one can of pumpkin in my pantry? I’m afraid to use it. What if I’ve used up my only can of pumpkin but I want to make pumpkin bread before September and the stores haven’t received their pumpkin shipment yet?? Total catastrophe, I tell ya.
Anyway, you all know how much I hate to waste food, so this recipe started with a botched cashew yogurt recipe. I took my cashew base and just added pumpkin and some spices. Feel free to take the heat up a notch by adding more paprika or even some chili powder. I didn’t have any garlic on hand, but I would have thrown in a couple cloves if I had them.
After blending everything in the Vitamix, I had a super creamy, almost whipped sauce. I tasted it a few times and added a little more salt and paprika until I had the flavor I wanted. The recipe below starts with minimal salt and paprika since you can’t exactly subtract spices! Keep adding about ½ teaspoon at a time until you reach your desired sauce.
Boil some pasta or rice, pick a green vegetable, and top with red pepper flakes. I added broccoletti, but I think some purple onion would be a great addition. Peas and zucchini/yellow squash would also pair well.
Enjoy!
Vegan Pumpkin Alfredo
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cashews soaked in water the longer the better and overnight if possible
- ½ cup vegetable broth
- Juice of 1 lemon about 2T
- 1/3 cup nutritional yeast
- 1 can pumpkin puree
- 1 t olive oil
- 1 t paprika
- 1 t salt and pepper
- Optional: 2 cloves of garlic
- Red pepper flakes for sprinkling on top
Instructions
Instructions:
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Put everything except for the red pepper flakes in a high-speed blender and give it a whirl.
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Taste to determine if you want to add more salt or paprika.
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Cook some pasta or rice, pick a green vegetable, and top with red pepper flakes.